-This is after a two stakeholder’s conference that decided that this should be an annual event to be included in the calendar of annual Tourism activities between the two countries;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
The Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda in Mombasa and key tourism stakeholders in Uganda and the Kenya Coast have partnered together to promote tourism in the two destinations.
According to a press release from the office of the Uganda Consular General in Mombasa, The Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference has been organized annually since 2022 where the first conference took place in Mombasa in November 2022 and the second one was held in Diani, Kwale, in November 2023.
At the first conference in 2022, it was decided that this should be an annual event to be included in the calendar of annual tourism activities between the two countries and this year’s conference will be hosted in Uganda in November.
As part of its continued efforts to promote the Uganda-Kenya Coast partnership, the Consulate General, in partnership with coastal tourism stakeholders has organized the Uganda Festival 2024, that started from the from April 17th, and will conclude in Sunday, April, 21st and is being held under the theme, ‘leveraging culture and golf to promote tourism, trade and investment between Uganda and Kenya Coast.’
The festival were at the Kwale County for the Diani Reef on 17th April 2024, the Ocean Beach Resort and Spa at Malindi, on 18th April 2024 in Kilifi County, Vipingo Ridge on 19th April 2024, Vipingo Ridge the Golf tournament aimed at promoting golf tourism between Uganda and Kenya set for Saturday 20th April 2024 featuring about eighty golfers and Fort Jesus in Mombasa County will be the last event on Sunday 20th April.
“The major aim of the festival is to expose the unique Ugandan products to a wider number of corporate Kenyans at the Coast, the youth and other regional and international tourists at the Kenya Coast, said part of the release.
The festivals includes Cultural performances by Ndere Troupe from Uganda and cultural groups from the Kenya Coast featuring Ms. Anne Kansiime, a Ugandan comedian who is very popular in Kenya and Ugandan cuisine like matooke, luwombo, and groundnut paste and some popular Ugandan products like Uganda Waragi.
It also aims at showcasing Ugandan niche tourism products like the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, water rafting on River Nile, Murchison Falls, religious and cultural tourism in line with the concept of complementarity between the Ugandan and the Kenya Coast tourism products.
While officiating at the launch Uganda’s Consular General in Mombasa Amb. Paul Mukumbya highlighted the concept of the partnership between Uganda and the Kenya Coast, which is premised on the fact that
Kenya is the number one source market for tourists to Uganda.
He indicated that in 2022, over three hundred and fifty thousand Kenyans visited Uganda and in the same vein, Uganda is the number two source market for tourists into Kenya while in 2022, over 150,000 Ugandans visited Kenya.
He further said that the Kenya Coast is the tourism hub of Kenya, receiving thousands of international visitors every year.
He pointed out that Uganda tourist attraction includes among others the mountain gorillas, the chimpanzees, Murchison Falls, River Nile (especially the adventure tourism including water rafting), the Kampala City tour (involving the Kabaka’s Palace, the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrines in Namugongo…), the Kenya Coast has the beautiful coastal beaches and a number of historical sites.
Mukumbuya said the tourism products in Uganda and at the Kenya Coast can, therefore, complement one another and create very interesting experiences for the tourists.
He encouraged more Kenyans to travel to Uganda to experience and enjoy these products.
The event is expected to attract over 1,800 participants from the three counties and beyond.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Alex Horsey, the CEO Vipingo Ridge indicated that festival offered an opportunity to promote tourism in Vipingo for golf, beach and animals.
He informed that the golf tournament will take place at Vipingo Ridge which is the only PGA rated in Africa.
Mr. Victor Shitakha, Chairman KCTA and Board Member of KTB, commended the strong partnership between Uganda and Kenya Coast and indicated that the large turn-up during the second Uganda- Kenya Coast Tourism Conference in Diani was evidence that complementarity between the two destinations was working.
In his remarks, Mr. Patrick Kamanga, Chairman, Kenya Association of Travel Agents reported that 150 people were booked to travel to Uganda for Martyrs Day celebrations and noted that Uganda is a destination for religious tourism.
Hon. Mohammed Osman, County Executive Committee Member in charge of Tourism, Culture and Trade, Mombasa County, stated that there was a 60% increase of Ugandans visiting the Coast.
He indicated that there was seamless connectivity between Uganda and Kenya Coast provided by the Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines and said that the festival offered an opportunity to foster shared heritage.
The Consulate General of Uganda to Mombasa was established in 2015 to take care of Uganda’s interests at the Kenya Coast especially Mombasa Port.
The Consulate takes care of the six (06) Coastal Counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta.
Ndere Troupe Ndere Troupe is a cultural development that was founded in 1984 by Dr. Rwangyezi Stephen and performs a repertoire of more than 40 authentic Ugandan dances and songs accompanied by various indigenous percussive, stringed and wind instruments.
Anne Kansiime is a renowned Ugandan comedienne who has won numerous awards in the entertainment industry and her unique style of comedy has won her fans in East Africa and beyond.
ENDS.
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